Reverend Earl John (Jude) Geilenkirchen

Reverend Earl John "Jude" Geilenkirchen, 83, was born January 20, 1938 at home in Fort Collins, Colorado, and he passed away December 20, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. Beloved brother of Adella Andrijeski, Glen Geilenkirchen, Dean Geilenkirchen, also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Gerhard and Clara Geilenkirchen, his sister Loraine Glass, three nephews and a niece. Fr. Jude attended St. Joseph's School in Fort Collins the first 9 grades, then went to Fort Collins High School, graduating May 1956. During his young years he was active in 4-H and FFA programs, showing animals at the county and state fairs. In his senior year in high school he entered the cherry pie baking contest and ended up as one of the 9 finalists who showed how to make their pie in front of an audience.

Fr. Jude served as Brother Jude in the Benedictine Fathers at the Holy Cross Abbey in Conon City. This is where he acquired the name of Jude. Still longing to be a priest, he went to Canada to a seminary for the required studies. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Denver by Archbishop James V. Casey on May 26, 1973 and served as Pastor of Our Lady of the Valley, Windsor; St. Augustine, Brighton; and St. Mary, Brush. And as Parochial Vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Northglenn; Christ the King, Denver; Mother of God, Denver; St. Theresa, Aurora; St. John the Evangelist, Loveland; St. Mary, Breckenridge; Our Lady of Peace, Silverthorne; St. Anne, Granby; St. Claire of Assisi, Edwards. He also served as a missionary in Columbia. While there he worked building shelters for the poor families and a church from donations from his friends and relatives in the United States.

The Funeral Mass is at 10:00 am, Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver, Colorado. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.